Speaker
Ms. Shovana Narayan
Padma Shri Kathak Exponent
Ms. Shovana Narayan, a name synonymous with Kathak, is a performer, choreographer, guru, researcher, and author deeply rooted in Hindi and Sanskrit literature and in Hindu philosophy. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and several state honours, and has authored nineteen books along with numerous articles on dance and culture.
Her research has uncovered the living Temple Kathak tradition in the Gangetic belt and documented nineteen Kathak villages. She has been featured in films including Born to Dance (2018), Shovana (2019), and the German documentary Das Geheimnis des Indischen Tanz (1987). In addition to her artistic achievements, she was crowned Miss UN in 1974. She is regarded as one of the foremost exponents of Kathak, and her performances are celebrated for their emotive depth, vivacious expression, and rhythmic brilliance.